JDBC unleashes creatives at Design Fusion

• February 02 2020
• http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sunday-finance/jdbc-unleashes-creatives-at-design-fusion_186118

As a means of further building out the creative/orange economy and help small businesses in the ecosystem to thrive, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) through its Design Fusion programme has prepped another set of entrepreneurs to become viable entities operating in the marketplace.

Speaking at a closing ceremony for their three-month Design Fusion programme last Wednesday, the JBDC said that a foundation has been laid for bringing several small businesses in the creative industries one step closer to achieving their dreams of becoming full fledged entrepreneurs.

Valerie Viera, chief executive officer (CEO) of the JBDC in congratulating last year's cohort of 24 creatives who successfully completed the programme, advised that this is only the beginning of their journey.

“We are celebrating not the end of a journey, but the starting of one, because we have to make sure that our participants understand that they are at foundation stage. We really want to ensure that when you go out full into market, you go out well prepared. I am sure that throughout the preparation you have been building a capacity to do business,” she said.

She further stated that the aim of the programme is to highlight the creative industries and give opportunities to members operating in the space. The programme which started in 2018 is delivered jointly by three core departments of the JBDC namely the Technical Services Department which looks at product development; Business Advisory Services Department, which looks at business and financial management aspects; and the Marketing Services Unit which exposed the participants to various aspects of getting their products to market.

Colin Porter, manager of technical services, JBDC, added that the programme looked at a wide variety of issues important to the enterprises and in the process helps them to formalise what they are doing and puts them on a path to becoming commercially viable entities that can reap benefits from what the market has to offer.

“The design fusion programme is a nursery programme. Focus is given to a set of creative entrepreneurs who have design at the core of their business. We particularly look at people in the fashion, gift and craft industries which also include home décor, fashion accessories, among other activities driven by creativity.